While on vacation in early October visiting NYC and then Mystic, CT with her mother, Elsabe and her older sister Annalies, Lisette had a seizure and was airlifted to Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. Lisette was where she needed to be to receive state of the art medical care for a ruptured brain aneurysm. After almost two weeks of fighting for her life, with the help of many incredible Yale physicians and nurses, Lisette was called home and left this world. Her family is heartbroken but wants Lisette’s short but very full 12 ½ years of life to be a positive example that can make a difference and help many others. Hence, the Lisette’s Bench Project. We envision a community gathering place for conversations to learn from each other, endeavor to walk in each other’s shoes and practice empathy. We want her memory to teach us to take brave steps towards a deeper understanding of what it means to be an engaged and curious human who wants to make a positive difference in this life.

Annalies, Elsabe and Lisette

Lisette's Bench

A gathering place honoring Lisette's memory.

Location

The "Triangle" at Saratoga Drive and Ridge Road. A neighborhood treasure that has been maintained by neighbors for over sixty (60) years!!!

About the Artist

Matt Weir

“I grew up in a fortunate environment. Meaning, I lived near a forested park and adjoining woods behind Saratoga Drive. This regular physical and psychological exposure to nature, the environment and its elements ushered my early proclivity to constructive methods and sculptural materials.”

Matt Weir graduated Cum Laude with a BFA from the University of Louisville Hite Art Institute with minors in Humanities and Art History in. Throughout that time in school, he was busy apprenticing with a diverse set of professional artists, studios and a bronze art foundry. Matt’s time associated with the Bright Foundry lasted for approximately fifteen years.

Matt’s work is inspired by prehistory and considerations of fossilized behavior. His work also finds itself responsive to the anthropocentric situation wherein humans are busy altering every place and earth system.

Matt Weir is an accomplished artist with works and exhibitions at 21c Museum Hotel, Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, Actor’s Theater of Louisville, The Kinsey Institute, Swanson Reed Contemporary, Evansville Museum of Art, History and Science and Bernheim Forest amongst many others. His work stands in the collections of the City of Louisville, Oldham County, KY, Vandalia, Ohio, the Shapin- Nicolas collection, 21c Museum, Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Cave Hill Cemetery, Daimler Chrysler, St. Xavier High School, Maker’s Mark Distillery, University of Louisville and amongst many private collections. Significant commissions include: “Earth Measure,” at Bernheim Forest, a 100-ton assembled and carved stone interactive land art piece. “Presence,” a polychromed aluminum public art ‘sign’ in downtown Louisville, KY. “Panthera tigris,” an over life size realistic bronze tiger sculpture at St. Xavier High School.

Matt Weir is a member of The National Sculpture Society and The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works.

Check out some of Matt's work